Rangers Add Veteran Defenseman Bryan McCabe

With two days remaining before the trade deadline hits in the NHL, the New York Rangers acquired a veteran, offensively-talented defenseman that they have longed for during most of the season. The Rangers were able to add Bryan McCabe from the Florida Panthers in exchange for Tim Kennedy and a third round pick in June's NHL Entry Draft.

"Bryan McCabe adds an established veteran presence to our young defensive corps," general manager Glen Sather said in a statement released by the Rangers. "He can help provide offense with his strong shot on the power play, and his versatility allows him to play either the left or right side effectively. Bryan also brings outstanding leadership qualities, having served as team captain for Florida for the past two seasons."

The 35-year old, 14-year veteran now joins his sixth NHL team after being drafted in the second round (40th overall) of the 1993 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Islanders. Since then, he has made stops in Vancouver, Chicago, Toronto and most recently Florida. The Panthers brought McCabe aboard back in 2008 in a February deal with the Maple Leafs for defenseman Mike Van Ryn and last year's fourth round draft choice.

With a plethora of injuries and having remained under the salary cap all season, the Rangers stashed enough financial flexibility to be active around this time of year. Much of the discussion surrounding New York has been centered on acquiring Brad Richards from the Dallas Stars. But with Richards health in question, a no-movement clause in effect, Dallas not officially announcing that he is available and general manager Joe Nieuwendyk reportedly asking for a package consisting of Brandon Dubinsky, Derek Stepan and Marc Staal, it's unlikely Sather will pull the trigger on him before 3 p.m. Monday afternoon.

McCabe, however, fills an even greater need for the Rangers and comes at a much cheaper price. The Rangers haven't had great success finding a power play quarterback for essentially the past few years. Many have tried to man the helm and all have failed to solidify themselves along the blue line. From free agents (Wade Redden) to draftees (Michael Del Zotto, Bobby Sanguinetti), New York has been unable to come up with that one defenseman who can run a power play consistently and effectively while adding to his scoresheet.

There is no guarantee McCabe will be any different. He has only netted five goals and 22 total points in 48 games with Florida this season - just seven of those points coming on the power player. But Florida as a whole has been second to last in the league on the man advantage at 13.7 percent.

McCabe still offers a terrific shot from the point and plenty of evidence from prior to this season that proves he can help the Rangers fix their own 21st-ranked power play. He has scored eight or more power play goals in a season five times, including a career-high 13 for the Toronto Maple Leafs back in 2005-06. Overall, he has scored 15 or more goals of any variety in a season five times as well, also putting up his career-high of 19 with the Leafs in 2005-06.

Perhaps his production has dipped. Or maybe its just the Panthers, in general. But McCabe is as good a bet right now for New York and they made a wise gamble.

To get McCabe, the Rangers really gave up very little. Kennedy was signed during the offseason by the Rangers when the Buffalo Sabres refused to cough up his $1 million arbitration award. But the 24-year old failed to win a roster spot and has spent the entire campaign with the Connecticut Whale of the AHL. In 53 games there, he has 42 points. He is a pending restricted free agent once again this summer.

Michael Del Zotto was assigned to the AHL in order to open up a roster spot for McCabe. McCabe is scheduled to go unrestricted this summer, unless New York elects to retain him and is able to work out an extension prior to July 1.

Avs, Sens Swap Goaltenders

The Ottawa Senators have been dumping players left and right over the past few days in an effort to begin the rebuilding process that should keep the Senators out of the playoffs for the next few years. Their latest departure comes in the form of goaltender Brian Elliot, who heads to the Avalanche in a straight up one-for-one deal that has Craig Anderson coming back to Ottawa.

The Senators realized that Elliot was simply never going to emerge as their bonafide No. 1 goaltending option. The 25-year old is struggling in his third NHL season with a goals against average at 3.19 and a save percentage clip at .894. Perhaps it was just the way things were going to go with anybody sporting a Senators jersey. But the time came for general manager Bryan Murray to cut ties with the team's ninth round pick from 2003.

Murray received Anderson in return. Anderson was a journeyman backup goalie for most of his NHL, but he came out of nowhere last season with a tremendous overall campaign in his first year as a free agent pickup with the Avalanche. He played over 70 games with Colorado in 2009-10, sporting a 2.63 goals against average and .917 save percentage as he backstopped the Avs into the playoffs.

But he hasn't brought upon that same type of magic this season. The Avs are very much on the outside looking in on the playoffs picture, and his statistics similar to those of Elliot in 33 games this year have not helped.

For Murray, this is an opportunity to get rid of a goalie that he didn't feel would ever live up to the expectation of starter and bring in a more veteran presence who had at one point showed the ability to be a No. 1. If things work out, Murray could re-sign Anderson over the offseason at what would likely be a very reasonable rate.

"The good thing about it is we get a chance for 20-something games to look and watch (Anderson) and, during that time period, I would think that we'll have discussions and we'll see where we want to be and where he wants to be," Murray said.

Bruins Acquire Kaberle, Peverely and Valabik

One would think that today was the NHL trade deadline considering the amount of deals that went down really over the last few hours. The deadline is still a week and a half away, but that did not stop the Boston Bruins from tinkering with their roster now. In two separate deals, Boston brought in defensemen Tomas Kaberle and Boris Valabik, as well as center Rich Peverely.
The Bruins acquired Kaberle from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for forward prospect Joe Colborne, Boston's first round pick this year and a conditional second rounder. Kaberle, who has been on the block for a few years now, has previously been reluctant to waive his no-trade clause in past seasons. But he did so this year to head to Boston, which ends a 12-year run with the organization that drafted him 204th overall back in 1996.

“On behalf of our entire organization I would like to thank Tomas for all of his many outstanding contributions to the Toronto Maple Leafs on the ice, and in the community," general manager Brian Burke said in a statement released by the Maple Leafs. "He has been a model citizen and it’s never easy to trade a player that has conducted himself as professionally as Tomas has for the past 13 years.”

In 58 games this season, Kaberle has posted three goals and 35 points for 38 points. He has yet to register a goal on the power play, though 22 of his helpers have come on the man advantage. The Bruins will benefit from that offensive upgrade on the blue line from the 32-year old pending unrestricted free agent.

The price tag was also relatively cheap for what will probably be a rental player. Colborne is a good prospect who was taken back in 2008 by Boston at the 16th overall position. But there's no guarantees with prospects and the Bruins still have plenty of depth in their system. Giving up the first rounder to Toronto also isn't a big deal since they still possess the Maple Leafs' first round pick this year from the Phil Kessel trade. And that selection will be high on in the draft - possibly even a lottery pick.

The Bruins also completed a separate trade with the Atlanta Thrashers that netted them Peverely and Valabik in exchange for Blake Wheeler and Mark Stuart. This deal will aid both teams as they compete for vastly different positioning in the postseason.

It's hard to say which side "won" this trade, as the Bruins were able to bring in a better offensive player and center in Peverely. Yet, they gave a bit on the defensive end by dealing a good two-way player in Wheeler and a better defender in Stuart. This trade just feels like a tinkering move between two general managers and should drastically change the fortunes of either team. If anything, the Bruins were able to cut a litlte payroll.

Byfuglien, Thrashers Extend For Five Years And $26 Million

When the Atlanta Thrashers acquired Dustin Byfuglien during the offseason from the cap-strapped Chicago Blackhawks, they fully anticipated he would emerge as one of their top assets. The big, versatile Minnesota-native who can play both forward and defense (where he was moved back to by Atlanta) brings a tremendous mix of physical play and offensive skill to his game. And the young 25-year old pending restricted free agent has since emerged as a key to the Thrashers' roster as well as their playoff hopes.

Fully realizing how important he has become to the team and how critical he can be to the success of the franchise over the long haul, general manager Rick Dudley was able to lock Byfuglien down with a five-year, $26 million extension Tuesday.

“Dustin has emerged into an elite player this season and been invaluable as a leader both on and off the ice," said Dudley. "It was a priority to sign him and we’re looking forward to witnessing his All-Star caliber play for many years to come.”

Byfuglien, who is earning $3 million this year, will see his salary rise to $4.25 million in each of the next two campaigns, $5.75 million in 2013-14 and 2014-15, and $6 million in 2015-16. His annual cap hit will be $5.2 million.

With 43 points in 58 games, Byfuglien is Atlanta's leading scorer and ranks fifth among defenseman across the entire league. His 17 goals and seven scores on the power play rank him atop all NHL defenseman, as well.

Lemieux Emerges To Vent Against NHL ... Again

This past weekend was not a good one for the Pittsburgh Penguins. They were brutalized both on the ice and on the score sheet by the New York Islanders Friday night before heading to Madison Square Garden for a matinee matchup against the New York Rangers that resulted in a come-from-behind loss. And to make matters worse, their delusional co-owner, Mario Lemieux, emerged from his cave to express his disappointment with the league he has always had issue with. Surprise, surprise! 

With thoughts of Brent Johnson’s knockout punch to Rick DiPietro that left the oft-injured Isles starter on the shelf for four-to-six weeks with facial fractures still on their mind, New York entered their rematch against Pittsburgh with intentions of garnering some revenge. What ensued was a game that saw 346 total minutes in penalties and a 9-3 shellacking by the Islanders over the undermanned Penguins.

Following that fiasco was a set of suspensions and fines by league disciplinarian Colin Campbell. The Penguins’ only punishment was an automatic 10-game suspension to Eric Godard, who left the bench in defense of Johnson when Michael Haley pursued a fight with the netminder. As for the Islanders, the organization received a $100,000 fine while Trevor Gillies received a nine-game suspension for delivering several blows to the head of Eric Tangradi and Matt Martin got a four-game ban for sucker punching an unsuspecting Maxime Talbot in the head.

None of that was good enough for the Penguins owner.

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Forsberg Set To Skate For Avs Against Columbus


It's been about three years since Peter Forsberg last skated on NHL. But he is set to make his return with the team he has spent most of his NHL career with - the Colorado Avalanche.

The Denver Post's Adrian Dater reported Thursday morning that the 37-year old forward would make his comeback tonight and skate on the left wing side of a line alongside Matt Duchene and Milan Hejduk.

"I'm excited - and nervous," Forsberg told The Denver Post, after taking part in the morning skate with teammates at Nationwide Arena. "I don't know how it's going to go, but I'm going to be skating with two great players, so hopefully they can help me out a little bit out there."

Forsberg left the NHL after last playing in Game 3 of the 2008 Western Conference Semifinals due to his lingering foot problems that hampered him since his days with the Philadelphia Flyers. He has played, albeit in a limited capacity, over in Sweden with MoDo over the past two years and even managed to suit up for Sweden in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

A return to the NHL was a long shot, however. He began working out with the Avalanche recently with the intent of judging how possible a comeback would be. Apparently, everything went well and he inked a pro-rated $1 million contract on Sunday.

Nobody should honestly expect the Forsberg of old. He is older, three years removed from the most intense league in the world and has not shown a true ability to hold up very well over the long haul. But Forsberg is also one of the greatest offensive players intellectually of all time and was at one time considered the best playmaker in hockey. He is also a tremendous playoff performer and helped guide Colorado to two Stanley Cups during his first tenure with the organzation.

For a team that needs an offensive boost and the quality leadership skills Forsberg can still bring to the table, it's definitely worth a shot to see if Forsberg can help. Just don't expect him to play every game or be on the score sheet in every single game he does play.

Carrie Underwood (along with Mike Fisher) Traded To Predators

This one came a bit out of left field and I would have thought Alexei Kovalev would be the first player dumped by the 14th place in the Eastern Conference Ottawa Senators, but Carrie Underwood - and Mike Fisher by dealt - was dealt Thursday evening to Music City's Nashville Predators, where she will surely be more at home to advance her country music career.

As for Fisher, the 10-year Ottawa Senator now going to only his second NHL team, now moves to Nashville in exhange for a first round pick this year and a conditional 2012 selection. That 2012 pick will be  a third rounder if the Predators advance one round in the playoffs or a second rounder if they win two or more rounds, according to TSN.

Fisher has been one of many Senators to have a down year this season, with just 14 goals and a minus-18 rating through 55 games. But he is still a solid two-way player who should up his game with the change of scenery the Predators offer as a team firmly in the postseason hunt.

"We were seeking a top-six forward and Mike Fisher was the player we set our sights on," Predators general manager David Poile said in a statement. "He plays playoff-style hockey all season long. He plays on the power play, kills penalties, is strong on draws and can match up against any opposing line."

Poile is especially excited about the playoff experience Fisher will bring to the team. And Fisher is equally excited about this new opportunity, in addition to the comfort his wife will find in their new hometown.

"They're a very good team, and it'll be kind of like going home for me," Fisher said. "I'm sure my wife won't be disappointed, either. But I think it's a great place for me and family and everything."

Fisher is in the third year of a five-year, $21 million contract extension signed with Ottawa in 2007. He will count as a $4.2 million cap hit to the Preds in each of the following two seasons.

NHL Trade Breakdown: 2.9.2011

The NHL trade deadline is fast approaching, set to go in effect at 3 p.m. eastern time on Monday, February 28. With just about two and half weeks remaining, it's time for teams to decide whether they are buyers or sellers and for general manager to start negotiations in hopes of building for the playoffs or giving themselves a better shot for next season.

A good numbers of deals went down today, signaling that perhaps the ball is rolling from here on out for these trades to take place. Lets take a look of some of these deals and break down how they affect the teams involved.

Toronto Maple Leafs trade defenseman Francois Beauchemin to the Anaheim Ducks for forward Joffrey Lupul, defensive prospect Jake Gardiner and a conditional 2013 fourth round pick:

Over the last few years, the Toronto Maple Leafs have constantly been a rumor mill for trades, especially involving defensemen. It seems impossible for Tomas Kaberle to avoid this at every twist and turn of his season from a yearly basis. This year, however, he was not alone on the trade block. Francois Beauchemin had long been considered available to any team willing to offer general manager Brian Burke something of substance.

It seems that Anaheim was able to cough up something to his liking. By sending Joffrey Lupul, former first rounder (17th overall in 2008) Jake Gardiner and a conditional fourth round pick in 2013 to Toronto, the Ducks were able to bring a familiar face back to The Honda Center. Beauchemin, 30, spent four seasons with the Ducks and has a Stanley Cup to his credit from playing on their 2007 championship team. And that familiarity to the Ducks, as well as a renewed sense of motivation for playing on a championship contender, could make this a worthwhile acquisiton for the Ducks. It also doesn't hurt that the Ducks managed to shed about half a million bucks in cap space in the process.

But it doesn't come without risk. Beauchemin has largely been a disappointment for the Maple Leafs this year and carries a hefty $3.8 million cap hit this year and next for what has thus far been subpar play. Lupul may not be a gamebreaker, but he is a decent contributor with 25-goal, 50-point potential when healthy that should fill Toronto's need of scoring more goals. And the Leafs gave up an intriguing 20-year old defensive prospect that could have grown into a key asset on Anaheim's blue line along with the likes of Cam Fowler. For a player that has been struggling like Beauchemin, that's not necessarily the greatest gamble.

If Beauchemin truly takes this deal as a reason to step up his game and play with a renewed energy to his game, he can be a nice veteran pickup for a team currently holding onto a seventh-seed playoff position out West by just one point. But if he plays just as he did in Toronto, the Ducks would have been better off holding onto Gardiner and monitoring his progress.

A Reason Why The NHL NEEDS Ray Emery

Goalie fights are always fun. Though rare, few things in hockey are more exciting than watching one goalie rush down from his crease to the opposition's in order to lay the hurt into the other team's netminder. And even with all of the pads that they wear, it's not always just fun and games for these guys when they do decide to drop the glove and blocker. Sometimes, they do get hurt. Just ask Rick DiPietro, if he can even hear you after getting his face destroyed with a one-punch KO from Pittsburgh Penguins backup Brent Johnson.

Just one week after that scrap that, surprise surprise, put DiPietro back on injured reserve, fans were treated to yet another goalie brawl. I use the term 'brawl" loosely on this one. This time it was between Montreal Canadiens starter Carey Price and a man who should be lock to pick up the Vezina this year, Boston Bruins starter Tim Thomas. Unfortunately, this fight was a major letdown and shows that not every goaltender is capable of living up to the standards set by Dan Cloutier and Ray Emery as it pertains to goalie fights.

That was simply awful and makes me even more thanful that the Anaheim Ducks signed Emery. Here's to hoping Emery proves himself in the AHL to get a callup. The NHL needs him desperately to set things right in the world of goalie fights!

Running Low On Goalies, Isles Swing Deal For Al Montoya

When Rick DiPietro is tabbed as your franchise's No. 1 goalie, you become accustomed to having some level of inconsistency in between the pipes. But this year has been a bit ridiculous for the Islanders, who have utilized the services of five different goaltenders this season and tried to enlist Evgeni Nabokov until the should-be Detroit Red Wing reminded them there was no purpose in him being a part of their organization. Thus far, only two of the goaltenders they did use could really be considered NHL caliber - the oft-injured DiPietro and Dwayne Roloson, who was mercifully dealt to the Tampa Bay Lighting where he is now shining even at 41 years old.

New York found itself in an emergency situation on Tuesday when their newest starting tender Kevin Poulin suffered a knee injury in pre-game warmups prior to taking on the Toronto Maple Leafs. That led to the Islanders going with backup Mikko Koskinen. The native of Vantaa, Finland went on to surrender five goals on 26 shots in a 5-3 loss against Toronto. It was revealed Wednesday that Poulin will miss the remainder of the season with a dislocated left knee cap.

In a relative state of emergency, TSN's Darren Dreger reported early Wednesday in The Dreger Report that Isles general manager Garth Snow was looking to swing a "soft" deal for a new body to sport their crease. By "soft" deal, Dreger explained this trade would not include any high-end talent or early round draft picks. According to Dreger late Wednesday, the Islanders managed to get that deal done relatively quickly. By send a sixth round pick over to the Phoenix Coyotes, Snow picked up former New York Rangers first round pick (6th overall in 2004) Al Montoya.

Montoya has never had a real opportunity to play in the NHL and has just five games in the big league to his credit. While he was selected by the Rangers seven years ago with the intention of being grooming into their next starting goalie, Henrik Lundqvist emerged as the King of New York and Montoya was eventually shipped out in a trade deadline deal with the Coyotes in 2008. Montoya's chances of seeing more playing time in Phoenix was slim, however, as the team already had Ilya Bryzgalov in between the pipes.

But in his very limited amount of NHL action (five games - four of which were starts), Montoya put up a very impressive 3-1 record with a 2.08 goals against average, .925 save percentage and a shutout in his very first NHL start against the Colorado Avalanche. With the Isles' goaltending situation completely depleted at this point, Montoya should have no trouble generating legitimate playing time with an opportunity to prove he can contribute over the long haul as he did two years ago.

That is, of course, until DiPietro returns from his latest facial injury to steal a few games before heading back to the shelf with another guaranteed ailment.